ROC Game Fest at RIT is a celebration of gaming for local developers

Henrietta, New York – The Rochester Institute of Technology is hosting a local event that is uniting people in celebration of all things gaming.

The 8th annual ROC Game Fest brought together content creators and game developers on Saturday at MAGIC Spell Studios at RIT in Rochester.

Numerous displays highlighting locally produced games were present at the festival in Rochester.

“We are showcasing forty-five games that are being developed by independent developers and students right here in Rochester,” MAGIC Spell Studios’ director of industry relations, Jennifer Hinton, said. “It demonstrates the influence and sense of community that games have here in Rochester.”

In addition, participants could take part in a children’s cosplay competition, hear lectures, and playtest games.

A number of students spoke about their love of game design and the reasons for their career choices at the event.

John Wager, a student game designer, described the process of having everything come together as “very exciting.” “Having people play and say, ‘That was cool and was really fun to play.'”

The future of digital media production in the region and worldwide thrilled other attendees.

Professor Jesse O’Brien of RIT commented, “I’m excited to see new people getting into game development.” “To see games growing as an industry and to see games made for everyone, it’s really wonderful.”

“We have a lot of young students who come to RIT because game design is what they’re really interested in,” Hinton said. “If they have the opportunity to see themselves in this future here, that’s what excites us the most about the event.”

According to designers, there is a larger network than ever to assist people in getting started in game production, making it much simpler to get started.

“Don’t be afraid to get into game development,” Wager stated. “The internet has a wealth of excellent tutorials and tools. In addition, the community is quite friendly and full of people who are eager to share their knowledge with others. Do not hesitate to attempt it.”

Those interested in pursuing this career path are advised by event developers to enroll in game design courses and begin practicing independently.